I bought a dozen tanglefree shells last season because I needed cheap decoys quick and like anything cheap they were pretty crappy quality. The plastic chipped in a couple places, and the paint wore off terribly for only having one season hunted them. So I'm looking to replace these with high quality shells that I can hunt over for years and depend on. I've looked at brands like GHG and G&H but I don't know the reputation of these. Do you guys know any brands of decoys that are known for durability but not necessarily the best looks?

How are the G&H's? I notice they're made in Oklahoma, not China like most others which I really like. But I notice there's not as much detail as the other decoys. How tough are they? At certain points in the season I hunt every day no matter the weather and I get into the field and get out of the field usually in a hurry so my decoys aren't necessarily getting cared for like they always should.

How are the G&H's? I notice they're made in Oklahoma, not China like most others which I really like. But I notice there's not as much detail as the other decoys. How tough are they? At certain points in the season I hunt every day no matter the weather and I get into the field and get out of the field usually in a hurry so my decoys aren't necessarily getting cared for like they always should.

I know an older guy who used to waterfowl hunt, but he doesn't any more, so he gave me all of his decoys, which consisted of about 1 dozen duck(don't know what brand) and 2 g&h goose shells. The ducks decoys were dry rotted and most fell to pieces when I picked them up. They had lots of dirt on them, but once I cleaned them up, they looked almost brand new. I don't know their exact age, but I think they are over 20 years old and have spent most of that time outside. IMO, G&Hs don't look the best as far as detail and anatomy, but they seem to be very durable.

I have some G&H shells that are over 20 years old. The only weak point on them is the hole for the head connection (ball and socket). The ones I have, had a reinforcement ring in the shell around the hole but that area eventually got brittle and broke. I'm not sure if they still use the same system or not. They may not have the detail but geese were flying over my FBs and landig in my shells 60 yards away last fall.

dakotashooter2 wrote:The ones I have, had a reinforcement ring in the shell around the hole but that area eventually got brittle and broke. I'm not sure if they still use the same system or not.

That's how my circa late '70s G&H shells were made, but by the mid '80s(?), they'd dropped the hard plastic ring and were using a a more flexible polymer for the shells that required no reinforcing and none of mine have cracked. The weakest link in that second generation was the split ball on the neck end that goes in the shell socket. The head polymer was still brittle enough that the ball halves could always withstand being stepped on in the dark, which too often happened to mine when new crews were helping put them together most every morning. Other than those broken under that abuse, however, those old heads are still fine after all these years.

Couldn't put a date on it, but there is now a different head (and stake) design that may be more bullet proof.

How are the G&H's? I notice they're made in Oklahoma, not China like most others which I really like. But I notice there's not as much detail as the other decoys. How tough are they? At certain points in the season I hunt every day no matter the weather and I get into the field and get out of the field usually in a hurry so my decoys aren't necessarily getting cared for like they always should.

Not the best in the "looks good to humans" department, but they are durable and geese die over them. I don't use my G & H much any more though because the ones I have are the super mags and its too much work hauling them around. Now the shells I use are 3 dozen Higdons mostly with some paint flaking GHG sleepers for variety. Buddy has 6 dozen bigfoot and dakota sleepers, both seem durable and I wouldn't have a problem buying and using those brands.

My experience with G&H has been good, but like others who posted here they are 20+ years old. I have mags and super mags. For smaller shells I have the old flambeaus that are older than the G&H's. I never bought sleeper shells. We have been turning the feeder heads around on out old flambeaus for over 20 years. Still works. I saw old flambeaus for sale without stakes for $40.00 a dozen just at the end of last season. So they are still out there.

Shells are really easy to repaint. You could just touch up what you have. Tire decoys are really durable, but heavy to carry.

CRP was responsible for 25.7 million additional ducks produced in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region during 1992-2003. Source DU.

This. I had 9 dozen Higdon standard and oversized field shells that I hunted over with a few other guys for about 6 years, that when I sold them (wish I hadn't btw), looked almost brand new. We did not baby them either! The guys that bought them all love them and have killed birds over them the last 2 seasons. When I owned them, around 2,000 birds hit the ground in them so I can attest to the fact that they'll finish birds.

Big Al's "Take-Em" Style Silhoutte Decoy Pro-Staff. N.O. Outdoors Guide Service, President and CEO. "You try harder so we don't have to."Don't do anything you wouldn't want to admit to the paramedics after.

spoonysmaker wrote:Anybody use the 30" super magnums as blind covers? Seems like it might work. Thinking about giving it a try this season.

We used to use any where from 9-36 of those big suckers; before layout blinds we would just lay in the field and use one of the big shells to cover up.

For $99 a half dozen its worth giving it a try. If its to much of a hassell atleast i got 6 more decoys Im gonna try to think of an idea to keep the shell elevated about a foot or so over the top of the blind so you can have good visability.